Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs hosted “Sessanta” on Tuesday, April 30th, a 60th birthday celebration of Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer. Featuring both A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, they were joined by Primus, all three bands “on stage” at the same time. Announced back in September, this month long tour through April rotates through the three bands, each performing a variety of their music, while the other bands hang out on and around the stage as they await their turn to play.
This was my first time at Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, KS, and as I arrived, I found a line of fans awaiting the doors to open and let us in. There have been many shows I’ve wanted to attend here, but for various reasons, it never became a reality. Until this day. And somehow, I feel Mother Nature just enjoyed having a laugh at the expense of the fun of the evening. Due to nearby lightning and severe weather, the venue were keeping the doors closed until the conditions improved. With each lightning strike, the timer reset 30 minutes. Frustrating for fans, but 100% understandable. Within the hour they sent everyone back to their vehicles as the storm began to roll in over the area. A tornado warning 30 miles west, heavy downpours, and lightning did not deter the dedicated fanbase from hunkering down and waiting for clear skies. By 830, the storm had passed and the cool, fresh air welcomed the audience back to the doors as they opened up and let everyone in.
With the weather delaying the start of the show to 9:10, nearly an hour and a half later than the original start time, almost half of the set had to be cut, compared to previous shows on the tour, which ran nearly 3 hours. Split into three acts, the show began with a video for the crowds as they slowly filled into the amphitheater. The short opening video was a nice reminder from Maynard to keep your phones in your pockets with no video or photography, lest you be removed from the venue and be ground into Spam. A charming introduction, but true. The banning of photos and video isn’t anything new for Maynard’s performances, typically allowing the audience to do so on the last song of the night. Allowing the performances to be experienced and not diluted or hindered by others holding their phones up to capture pictures or video. Not only does it take a person out of the moment, but disturbs those around them who are trying to just take it all in.
After the intro video, the opening of A Perfect Circle’s “The Package” kicked the evening off, followed by Primus performing “Those Damned Blue Collar Tweakers”, and finally Puscifer closing the first act with “Galileo”. The stage set the mood for the show, a celebratory, laid-back birthday event, a two story stage with three drum sets on the top tier, along with seats for the other bands to watch the show from. The lighting around the stage was mystical, with a pyramid of spotlights, rows of moving led lights, and the closest thing to a high grade bowling alley birthday party design, all working together setting the mood for each band as the atmosphere evolved through the night. Near the end of “The Package”, in perfect Maynard style humor, he was provided a birthday cupcake, proclaiming to the cupcake “She game this to me, It’s mine.” before then handing it down to a fan, telling them “It’s yours. There’s boogers on it.”
After a short intermission, the second act began with Primus starting the second Act, followed by Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle, all performing longer sets than the first act.
I have always heard of Primus’s Les Claypool and his mastery of the Bass. His sound is unique and very much his. There really isn’t anything like seeing the stage presence, the quirky mannerisms of Claypool as his bass guitar booms across the airwaves of the amphitheater. My biggest regret of the evening was not getting any shots of Les at the end of the show, as he wore a mask and stood in the back with his upright bass. I need to see him again, this is a must.
Through the tour, Act III was to be the final act of the show, with Puscifer opening, then A Perfect Circle, and finally Primus closing the individual sets before all three bands gathered to play the three tracks from the “Sessanta EPPP“. Unfortunately, due to the weather delay and the shortened sets, they had to cut that portion of the show. But, and I say this as a fan, I got to hear “Judith” performed live, and that is really all i needed for the night to feel perfect. Primus closed the show with “Southbound Pachyderm” while accompanied by Billy Howerdel from A Perfect Circle and all three drummers at the same time were exhilarating to watch, albeit from the side of the stage as the photographers awaited the final song. When all three bands got onto stage to perform Puscifer’s “Grand Canyon”, the culmination of Maynard’s celebration reached an opulent denouement. Everyone left satisfied, if not a little wet. This once in a lifetime show will stay with all in attendance who took in everything the show had to offer.
As an attendee, I wished the show had been the full experience, without any song cuts, and as a photographer, while understanding and supporting not taking photos during the show, having the last song of the night as the only song to photo left me scattered and wanting more. But in the end, it isn’t about myself and my wants. The show was a celebration of what Maynard wanted, and by giving us his music and performances over the last 30+ years, the least we can do is wish him a happy birthday and hope that Kansas didn’t scare him away with our weather.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday Maynard.
